Head coach Frans Steyn says the Cheetahs need SA Rugby’s help to get back into Super Rugby.

After being kicked out of the Sanzaar tournament at the end of the 2017 season, the Bloemfontein-based franchise joined the Pro14 and qualified for the quarter-finals at their first attempt.

However, their third season in Europe was cut short by the global lockdown, and they were not among the four South African teams included in the new expanded URC tournament from 2021-22, with the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers heading north after themselves being kicked out of Super Rugby.

Since then, the Cheetahs have had to make do with the Currie Cup, SA Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Cheetahs, who finished third on the SA Cup log this year before losing to Griquas in the semi-finals, are targeting another strong Currie Cup campaign and preparing for their fourth appearance in the EPCR Challenge Cup – but Steyn made it clear that the franchise’s long-term future hinges on access to a proper, season-long international tournament.

“We need SA Rugby to help us get into a competition. Without their help, they just say no to everyone that gives us an opportunity, and it shuts down,” the former Springbok utility back told Megafon Rugby.

Rather than pursuing a return to the URC, Steyn believes Super Rugby is a better fit for the Free State side.

“I’m so outspoken about Super Rugby because of the way they play. I’m a fan of their style,” he said.

“If the Crusaders came to play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, I promise you the stadium would be full. People in South Africa still love the New Zealand teams.”

Steyn said he’s open to innovative competition formats to ease the travel and cost burden.

“There was talk about playing in a central location like Cape Town for a couple of weekends so that teams don’t have to fly around so much. That could help.”

He added that SA Rugby must at least give the Cheetahs the green light to explore these ideas.

“If I have a conversation with someone and then the next morning they speak to SA Rugby, and I never hear from them again, then something happened. That’s the fight I’m fighting.”

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For now, Steyn is focused on preparing the Cheetahs for another Currie Cup and a tough Challenge Cup campaign, but he’s not hiding the fact that more is needed.

“If we win or come close to winning the Challenge Cup, that could be our way back into something bigger. But we need to be given the opportunity.”

Photo: Danie van der Lith/Gallo Images